Improvement in magazine fire-arms



` 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. F. VETTERLIN.

MAGAZINE-FIRE-ARM. N,185,599 Patented Dec.19,18-76.

zsheets-sheefz. F. VETTERLIN. MAGAZINE FIRE-ARM. Ng.185,599, Patented Dec. 19,1876.

. ing-pin projected.

`showing its spiral-faced shoulder.

NTTEn STATES PATENT @Finca FREDERIK VETTERLIN, OF NEWHAUSEN, SWITZERLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN MAGAZINE FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part oi Letters Patent N0. 185,599, dated December 19, 1876; application filed May 20, 1876.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERIK VETTER- LIN, of Newhausen, Switzerland, have invented certain Improvements in Breech-Loading Fire-Arms, of which the following is `a specification In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specitication,Figure 1 representsa side elevation of a rifle containing my improvements, showing the breech-bolt withdrawn. Fig. 2 represents a longitudinal vertical section of the breech-receiver, showing the breech-bolt pushed forward and the iir- Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of a portion of the breech-bolt, Fig. 4 represents an end view of the breech-bolt, looking from its rear end toward its spiralfaced shoulder. Fig. 5 represents a transverse section ot' the breech-receiver, taken on the plane of line 1 1, Fig. 2, the breech-bolt being removed. Fig. 6 represents a view ot' the spiral-faced end of the collar of the breechwhen turned to lock the breech-bolt in the breech -receiver. Fig. 8 represents a trans verse section ofthe collar, taken on the plane of line 2 2, Fig. 7. Fig. 9 represents a'longitudinal section of a portion of the breech-re ceiver, taken on the plane ot' line 3 3, Fig. 5, and showing the breech-bolt collar without its bolt, in the position it occupies when lockingthe breech. Fig. 10 represents a side elevation of the rear end of the breech-receiver and breech bolt, showing the iring-pin retracted and ready for firing, and also showing an attachment for depressing the triggerbolt, so as to diseliigage it from the arm oi" the firing-pin, and permit the latter' to be released gradually by turning the Vbreech-bolt collar when the gun is loaded, and itis not desirable to discharge it. Fig. 11 represents a transverse Vertical section taken on the plane of line 4 4, Fig. 10, looking toward. the

rear end of the gun. Fig. 12 represents a similar section, taken on the plane ot' line 5 5, Fig. 1, looking toward the rear end oi' the gun. Fig. 13 represents a side view of the elevation-sight. Fig- 14 represents a top view of the'elevation-'sight Fig. 15 represents a sectional view of the elevation-sight. Fig. 16 represents a view of the elevation-slide detached. Fig. 17 represents an end view of the forward end of the gun. Fig. 18 represents a section taken in the plane of line 6 6, Fig. 17. Fig. 19 represents an end view ot' the nose-band detached. Fig. 20 represents a top view ot' the magazine plug detached. Fig. 21 represents a transverse section ot' the magazine-plug, taken on the plane of line 7 7, Fig. 20. Fig. 22 represents a section through the outer end oi' the magazine, taken in the plane of line 8 8, hig. 17, the magazine-plug being removed; and Fig. 23 represents a similar section, showing the magazine plugin place.

This invention, which is an improvement on my patent ofDecember 29, 1868, No. 85,494, relates partially to that class ot' breech-loading magazine tire-arms in which the breech-bolt slides longitudinally in opening and closing the breech, raises and lowers a cartridge-receiver, and is operated by a handle, and fastened by a bayonet-catch when the breech is closed.

This invention has lor its object to improve the construction and operation ot' this class ot' tire-arms, in such manner as, tirst, to enable the breech-bolt to be guided and prevented from turning during its sliding movement; secondly, to enable the backward movement ot' the breech-bolt to be arrested when the breech is opened sufficiently, or to enable said breech-bolt to be entirely withdrawn and de- The invention also has for its object to pro-I vide an improved nose-cap and plug for the mouth ofthe magazine, the plug being adapted to be readily removed to permitthe removal of the magazine-spring and tube, this part of the invention being applicable to any magazine tire-arm.

The invention also has for its object to provide an improved elevation back-sight, whereby the shooter can set and regulate the dis` y -tance without seeing to the graduationlines thereof, this part of the invention being applicable to any rifie or like arm.

To these ends my invention consists in the construction and combination of parts where- -by the desired results are obtained, all of which l will now proceed todescrihe., andallel therewith, is the cartridge-magazine D,-

and formed vertically in the frame B is a chamber, E, in which the cartridge-carrier E is raised and lowered by the motion of the breech-bolt, as in my above-named patent, lifting a cartridge from the magazine to the line ot' the barrel every time the breech-bolt is drawn back. B' is the breech-receiving part oi' the breech-body. The part B has a cylindrical bore, F,-which is in line with the bore of the barrel. Formed within this breechreceiver, at or near the rear end thereof, are two or more shoulders or spear-wings, G G. which project into the bore, and are separated by spaces H H of equal width. The forward ends of the shoulders G constitute iiXed abutments for corresponding shoulders on the` breech-bolt collar, as will presently appear. l vrepresents the breech -bolt, which passes longitudinally through the breechbody, Iis cylindrical in form, and has a f longitudinal bore adapted t0 receive the firing-pin J. its rear end being slotted to allow the independ` entlongitudinal motion of the transverse arms J J ofthe tiring-pin. K represents a shoulder formed on the breech-bolt, in such position that when the bolt is pushed into the breechreceiverI the shoulder Will be forward of the shoulders Gr G of the breech-receiver. The shoulder K is provided with spear-wings K K', which are so located as to pass through the spaces H H, between the spear-wings G of the breech-receiver, when the breech-bolt is moved `in and out. The portion ofthe breechbolt back of the shoulder K is somewhat re duced in size, as shown in Fig. 3, and upon the reduced portion is located the collar L, which is capable of being partially rotated, and is provided on one side with the lever M, and on its back with cams or inclines N, which, when the collar is turned from right to left, bear against the arms ofthe tiringpin and retract the latter, as in my former patent.

The collar L is provided with spear-wings Ll L', which are in line with the spear-wings K of the breech-bolt when the collar is turned to allow the bolt to be moved in and. out, and pass with the spear-wings of the breech-bolt the subsequent turning of the collar bringing its spearwings in front of the stationary spear-wings H and locking the breech-bolt, substantially as in my former patent. Behind the collar L is the mainspring O ofthe firingpin, which is inclosed by a casing, P, both of these parts being held in place against the collar by a cap, Q, which is screwed into the rear end of the breech-bolt. R represents a longitudinal rib, which projects backwardly vfrom the breech-body B, just below and parallel with the bore of the breech-receiver. This rib has a groove, S, in its upper surface,

which is so formed as to receive the end of the lower arm J of the tiring-pin, as shown in Figs. ll and 12,'and a dovetail projection, T, on the periphery of the collar L, as shown in Fig. 12. j

The projection T is so located as to enter the groove S, (through a lateral groove, S',) when the collar is turned after tiring, far enough to retract the tiring-pin and unlock the breech-bolt, the groove being provided with dovetail notches in lits opposite sides, which receive the beveled sides ofthe projection T.

lt wil-l be seen that by means of the groove S and projection T the collaris prevented from turning so as to bring its spearwings'out of line with the spaces H H when the breechbolt is being moved in and out, and the breechbolt is guided and given a sure and steady motion.' The rear end of the groove S is open, as shown in Fig. 2, and presents no obstacle to the entire removal of the breech-bolt. To prevent this, however, l provide the side of the rib with a stud, U, located on the end of a shaft, V, which extends through, and is adapted to turn in, the lower part of the rib, immediately under the rear end ofthe groove S. When the shaft V is turned so as to cause the stud U to assume a nearly vertical position, the stud forms a stop, against which a projection, W, on the collar L strikes when -the breech-bolt is moved backward sufficiently, as shown in Figs. l and 12. When it is desirable to entirely disconnect the breechbolt from the breech-body it is only necessary to turn the stud U downwardly into a hori- `zontal position and slide the breech-bolt back the breech-bolt raises the cartridge-receiver- E. This lever is pivoted at c to the breechbody, one of its arms entering a slot, ci, in the cartridge-receiver, while the other projects into a slot, e, in the under side of the breechbolt, the slot being so arranged as that its forward end shall strike the arm of the lever through the spacesH H ofthe breech-receiver, i b as soon as the breech-bolt is pulled back Knee-mittags a l clear of the cartridge-receiver, and tilt the' lever and raise the receiver, as in my former patent. Heretotore the leverb has been made rigid, vof one piece, so that it was only by removing it bodily from the breech-body that the cartridge-receiver could be made inoperative. I now make the lever in two parts, b and b', the part b being a bolt or rod, which is` 'ad apted to slide in a socket formed in the part b, and be raised so as to enter the slotin the breechbolt, or lowered so as to be free from the same, as shown in Fig. 2. When in the latter position it will be readily seen that the cartridgereceiver will be inoperative, and the gun will be converted into a single-loader. The bolt b projects below the breech-body and wooden stock far enough to be conveniently grasped by the operator, is provided with a suitable handle or knob, and is held in either of its positions by a spring-catch, c', which is attached to the part b, and engages with notches d d in the bolt b.

It is frequently the case when the firing-pin is retracted and ready for tiring, whether the gun isloaded or not, that it is desirable to release it gradually, so as to avoid the unnecessaryjar and shock, as well as the discharge ofthe cartridge. To this end I have provided a cam-lever, e, which is pivoted to the side of the breech-body, under .the lever M of the collar L, and on the side over which said lever M projects. The lower part oi' this cam-lever bears against a laterallyprojecting shoulder, j', on the trigger-bolt f', and its upper part is curved outwardly and backwardly.

When the cam-lever occupies the position shown in Fig. l() it is inoperative; but when turned so as to bring it into a vertical position it will depress the trigger boltf, so that the latter will no longer engage the arm J of' the tiring-pin', the latter being released so far as the trigger-bolt is`concerned. The location ot' the cam-lever e is such, however, that it cannot be turned, as last indicated, when the collar-lever M is turned down, and the gun is. ready for ring, the collar-lever when in this position preventingthe upward movement of the cam-lever, as shown in Figs. l() and l1. rlhe depression of' the trigger-bolt by the cam-lever can, therefore, only be effected when the collar-lever M is turned up,

. the rear end of the collar L when in this position being in contact with and supporting the arms J J of the iirng-pin against the tension of the mainspring, and when the collar-lever is turned down the arms J J follow the inclines or cams N of the collar, and the tiring-pin is thus gradually released and prevented i'rom exploding the cartridge. When the collar-lever is turned down it strikes the curved forward edge of the cam-lever, and forces it back into the position shown in Fig. 10, so that the next time the breech-bolt is withdrawn the trigger-bolt will be ready to engage with the arm J ofthe iring-pin.

The forward end of the gun is provided with a cap or nose-band, g, which is composed of a band, which surrounds the barrel. A, the magazine D, the wooden stock C, and the rammer or sweeping-rod h at the end of the wooden stock, and vis provided at its front end with an inwardly-projecting ilange or lip, in which are formed orifices t' 'il t2 for the barrel, the magazine-plug, and the rammer. The

orice il has two slots,jj, opening out of it at the top and bottom, and on the inner side of the Bange is a groove, k, extending entirely around the orifice il, and opening` into thel ing the studs n though the slotsj, and giving the plug a quarter-turn, the studs n'will enter the groove la, and prevent the plug from being withdrawn. The usual spring-catch o, Fig. 1, is provided to hold the nose-band in place; and, in addition to this, the rammer or sweeping-rod isprovided with an enlargement, hf, which, when the rod is screwed into the stock, bears against the flange m of the plug l, and not only prevents the nose-band from coming off in case of the breakage of its spring-catch, but prevents the' plug l from being accidentally turned so as to bring its studs into line with the slotsj, the flange m being' extended down to the rod l1, and provided witha notch or concavity, which bestrides the rod, as shown in Fig. 17.

p represents my improved elevation-sight, which is composed of four parts, viz: the sight-receiver or body q, which is secured to the barrel; the elevation-leafy', which is pivoted to the sight-body the elevation-slide i", which is attached to lthe elevation-leaf, and the leaf-retainer s.

The body q is composed of two semicircular plates, united by a dovetail block, which is inserted in a corresponding mortise in the barrel. The elevation-leaf is pivoted to the body by a bolt, b', the axis of which is the center ot' the circle of which the peripheries of the semicircular plates are arcs, the leaf r being adapted to turn on its axis, and to be held at any desired point by the leaf-retainer s, which is composed of a plate attached to one side of the leatl 1', and provided with two curved spring-catches, c e, which engage with graduation-notches on the peripheries of the semicircular plates, as shown in Figs. 13 and l5, these notches indicating the elevation from one hundred to one thousand meters.

The front side ot` the elevation-leaf is provided with grooved anges, which receive and guide the elevation-slide r, the latter being adapted to be moved longitudinally, and having a slot, s1, in which is a scre\v,'s2, which limits its movement and prevents it from being detached from the leaf. The slide is thus adapted to practically increase the length of the elevation-leaf, and increase the sighting from one thousand to two thousand meters. The lower end of the slide is provided with two slits, which form tongues t t on the sides ofthe slide. These tongues are inclined outwardly and tempered, so as to constitute springs, which bear with sucient firmness against the anges of the elevation-leaf to prevent the slide from being moved accidentally.

I claim as my invention- 1. The rib R, rigidly attached to the breechbody, and provided with the groove S, which is located below and parallel with the breechbolt, and is adapted to receive a projection on the collar of the breech-bolt, and guide said collar and breech-bolt in their longitudinal movements, substantially as described, for the purpose specied.

2. The combination of the rib R, having the longitudinal groove S and lateral groove S, with the breech-bolt collar L, havingvthe projection T, substantially as described.

3. The swiveled stud U, applied to the rib R, and adapted either to stop the breech-bolt and its collar in their backward movement, or to be depressed and allow said breech-bolt and collar to be entirely removed, substantially as described.

4. The swiveled stud U, combined with the rib R and the projection W on the collar L, substantially as and for the purpose speciied.

5. The stud U, having the shaft V, on which are two at surfaces, combined with the spring X, which is adapted to hold the shaft and stud with a yielding pressure in either of two positions, substantially as described.

6. The elbow-lever, consisting of' the pivoted part b, having a spring-catch, c', and the sliding part b', having notches d d, combined with the breech-bolt and cartridge-receiver, substantially as described.

7. The cam-lever e, pivoted to the breechbody, and adapted to depress the trigger-bolt, in order that the ring-pin may be released gradually, substantially as described.

8. The cam-lever e, combined with the trigger-bolt f', having the shoulder f, substantially as described.

9. The cam-lever e, having the curved or inclined upper portion or handle, and located in such relation to the collar-lever M as to be displaced and caused to release the triggerbolt when the collar-lever is turned down, substantially as and for the purpose specilied.

10. The detachable nose-cap g, adapted to inclose the barrel, the stock, the magazine, and the sweeping-rod, and be held in place, partially or wholly, by a projection, h', on the sweeping-rod, substantially as described.

11. The nose-cap g, having the oritice il, slots jj, and groove k, combined with the magazineplug Z, having studs n n, substantially as described.

12. rlhe magazine-[dug l, having thenotched projecting langem, combined with the sweeping-rod h, having the enlargement h', substantially as and for the purpose specified.

13. The pivoted elevation-leatl r, having the spring sight-retainer s and the adjustable elevation-slide r', combined with the segmental sight-receiver q, having numbered graduations or notches, adapted to hold the springpoints of the sight-retainer, and indicate the required elevation of the leaf for tiring at a given distance, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication in the presence ot' two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERIK VETTERLIN.

Witnesses HEINRICH MAY, ROB MAY. 

